5 May – the Scottish Daily News begins publication in Glasgow. It is Britain's first worker-controlled, mass-circulation daily, formed as a workers' cooperative by 500 staff made redundant when the Scottish Daily Express closed its printing operations in Scotland and moved to Manchester.
16 May – local government in Scotland reorganised under terms of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973: counties, large burghs and small burghs and existing districts are completely abolished and replaced by a uniform two-tier system of regional and district councils (except in the islands, which have unitary authorities). The districts of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow are accorded city status in the United Kingdom; Elgin and Perth lose this status (although Perth regains it later). County, burgh and amalgamated constabularies are merged into eight regional police forces.
8 November – the Scottish Daily News ceases publication.
24 December – 'Great Mull Air Mystery': Peter Gibbs vanishes after taking off from Glenforsa Airfield on a solo night flight; his body is found 4 months later on a hillside.